Swimming appliance



Feb. 2, 1932. G. G; E. SCHMITT SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Feb, 2, 1932. e. a. E. SVCHMITT SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lumlNVENTOR Patented eh. 2;, 1932 GEORG GUSTAV EMILv SCHMITT, OF BERLIN-WILMERSDORF, GERMANY SWIMMING Arr IANcE Application filed October 25, 1930, Serial No.

stroke and cause them to collapse during the V idle stroke.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side view of the devlce 1n use and showing the thrust members in collapsed position, Fig. 2 is a side view of part of the device showing the members in operative position,

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device in use showing the thrust members in operative position,

Fig. 4 is a side View of the swimming appliance connected to the hands, and

Fig. 5 is a view of the latter device seen from the palm of the hand.

The swimming and water treading appliance comprises a plurality of thrust members in the form of plates which are preferably sli htly domed. In the arrangement shown there are'three such plates 13, 14c and 15 arranged one above another at the outside of each leg proper, the plates being connected to a strip made of light metal such as aluminium or the like- The plates are connected to the strip by hinges 12 and are controlled by suitable abutments which pre vent them from turning upwards beyond a position at right angles tothe leg. Into this position, which is illustrated in Fig. 3 the plates will be automatically turned when the legs are extended for performing the power stroke, thereby increasing the resistance of the water to the legs. During the idle stroke, the plates collapse against the leg, as shown in Fig. 1 and will therefore meet with little or no resistance in the waters The plates are preferably reduced downwards" in size.

For connecting the strips 11 to the legs, a 7

network of straps is provided. Three straps 1, 3, and 1 are buckled round the leg, one under the knee, another around thecalf, and

a third, preferably wider. strap, just above the ankle. The straps are connected to the adjusted by means of buckles 9.

4e1,a2o, and in Gernianyfloveinber 7, i929.

strip 11.n'ear the points-ofconnection with the thrust plates. Another, fairly wide, strap 2a is connected at one end to the ankle strap 4 and carriedunder the foot and then along the inner side of theleg up to the knee 5 stigir p 1 towhich .itis connected at the other en.'

'The strap 2a is preferablyinclined transversely' under the foot so as to bear against the sole principally at the edge-nearest the 9 heel 16.; By this arrangement thestrap will have a tendency to slipin the direction of the toes,and its slipping off the heel will be prevented. I

In order tomaintainthe structure in position without having to apply too much tension to the straps 1, 3, and 4 a waist belt is provided to which the strap 1 is connected by means of a strap 2, the latter being doubled back from thebelt and adjusted by means of a buckle'7to the required eifective length.

Another pair of straps 10 may, if required, be connected to the straps 2 and buckled round the. thighs. The belt 6 is in its turn supported by shoulder straps 8 which are The hands are alsoprovided with thrust plates f connected for each hand to a glove a. The plate f is hinged to a supporting plate esecured to the palm portion of the glove. 9

The movablepart of the hinge o is fitted with a lug f adapted to abut against a raised edge eon theplate 6 so as to maintain the plate in the plane of the hand during the power stroke. The finger portions a of the glove are interconnected by swimming webs 0. The glove is made large enough to allow free movement of the hand muscles and to allow the water to circulate freely 7 through the finger portions. The glove is fastened to the hand by means of a strap 6 and a buckle.

I claim: f v

1. A devicefor facilitating swimming and water treading, comprising a pair of metal strips, means for connecting said strips to the outsides of the legs proper, a plurality of thrust plates hinged to .said strips, means for preventing said strips from turning towards the knee beyond a position at right angles to the legs, a waist belt, a strap con necting each metal strip with said waist belt at the hip of the swimmer, and shoulder straps connected to said waist belt at points near the centre lines of the body.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the metal strips consist of straps embracing the legs one in the neighbourhood of each thrust plate.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the metal stripsto the legs consist of straps embracing the legs one in the neighbourhood of each thrust plate, and a strap carried under-the sole of each foot and connected to'said latter straps, the strap portion below'the sole being adapted' to take the major part of the thrust at the edge-nearest the heel.

The structureclaimed in claim 1 in combination with gloves having webs between the fingers,. a thrust plate for each glove, and a supporting plate for said thrust plate connected tothe palm portion of the glove. 5-. The structure claimed in claiinl in combination with gloves having open-ended fingers and: webs between said fingers, a thrust plate for each-glove, and a supporting plate 01: said thrust plate connected; to the palm portion of the glove.

GEORG GUSTAV EMIL' SCHMITT. 

